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id04sp (anonymous) says...

The question is, why isn't this being done in other communities off the main road? We're paying taxes for it, and it would be much better for the county to do this than have to fight with homeowners associations who abuse their power and homeowners who don't pay their assessments. I'd rather have my taxes raised and put the HOA out of the road business.

March 1, 2007 at 6:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flyonthewall (anonymous) says...

I made a couple phone calls this morning but thought this might get the county's attention and maybe an answer for us all. I was on RCR 70 this morning and was nearing the home of Terry Jost. I noticed there was a grader plowing his driveway which didn't seem out of the ordinary until I followed the blade to the garage of the house when I looked and saw it was a Routt County Road & Bridge blade. I didn't realize Routt County offered home snow removal. I do not know who is benefitting from this service but I find it hard to believe the taxpayers are. Do we have to be bankers to receive this service? I should explain the driveway is about 1/4 mile long and the driver made 2 passes. Terry's address and number are in the phone book if there any questions for him. If you know any county workers or commissioners, please ask so that we all may benefit from this service. We deserve an explanation.

February 26, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

id04sp (anonymous) says...

Now we have a real scandal.

I like it.

February 26, 2007 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flyonthewall (anonymous) says...

I have looked into this matter and found out the Josts aren't the only family receiving this service, I apologize to them for singling them out. They are the only ones where I witnessed this taking place. This matter is supposed to be looked into tomorrow, 03-01-07, per Road & Bridge supervisors.

February 28, 2007 at 5:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flyonthewall (anonymous) says...

I agree completely with your statement. There are many such communities where I don't see how the home owners tolerate it. The roads would in much better condition than putting band-aids as many HOAs will do. No wondering, "Will I make it home tonight?" To get back to my original item of interest, the families in question by me are single family residences getting preferential treatment by county employees. Not a subdivision or other community. I'm still waiting to hear from any county entity as to why.

March 1, 2007 at 6:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gladys (anonymous) says...

Isn't that what the people of Steamboat are all about? I mean really...how long could that have taken the county guy? Why can't you see this as a nice gesture and let it go? I pay taxes too, but I am not the least bit angry that the county guy helped someone out. I find it refreshing to think that there really ARE nice people left in Steamboat. But apparently only ONE. So, let's rally and see how much trouble we can get the plowguy in...hey, I know, why don't we make him lose his job over a kind gesture? That would be a perfect end to a kind act. And don't forget the class action lawsuit so we can all get our money back. You know, let's do it the "Steamboat Way". Then we can focus on how we are going to split a penny between every 100 or so people.

March 2, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

roadhard (anonymous) says...

The blade went into Josts' because the propane truck was there and needed to make a delivery and the driveway had blown shut. And yes, we did help out a resident in the area about a month ago after a big wind. That was the limit of the assistance.

It was about being in the right place at the right time with the needed piece of equipment and not being indifferent to the needs of our rural citizens, the taxpayers.....

Your right though fly, the county is not in the business of plowing private driveways.

a county road supervisor

March 1, 2007 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flyonthewall (anonymous) says...

roadhard. It's odd that none of the the other driveways on RCR 70 that the propane truck went to were not plowed if it was known they would be getting a delivery that day. There are many deserving people in the area that might not have the means to keep up with the weather and would appreciate the assistance. Is it up to the driver to decide whom meets the criteria, or his/her supervisors? As a rule, if a propane company cannot access the tank there is not a delivery. Did the plow driver take the time to hop out of his blade and shovel a path in his/her concern to see that the delivery was made? Probably not. It is more along the lines of, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". Depending on how deep the scratchee's pockets are, of course. It sounds like the county is just trying to weasel out and make the whole issue go away.

March 1, 2007 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kingsride (anonymous) says...

Routt County is getting better and better. When im drunk and go in the ditch they ll pull me out, and now this. Where do I go to schedule my appt to have my driveway plowed or can they just do it on an as needed basis?

March 3, 2007 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gladys (anonymous) says...

Ridiculous. You people are obviously not longtime residents. You come here because it's such a beautiful, friendly town...then strive to make it what you just ran away from.

March 3, 2007 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

Well, my propane delivery didn't occur because the driveway wasn't cleared wide enough for the truck's passage. Road crew came by and kept right on going. Had to spend a few hours with a shovel doing hard labor to widen the driveway....so propane could be delivered the next day.

Of course, I have to do this EVERY morning after it snows...thanks to the county road plow, my driveway is blocked by 1-2 feet of snow every single time and I can't get out until MY shovel comes out to remove it. How can I get them to stop dumping it right into a nice roadblock pile that prevents me from leaving my own driveway until I clean it away?

March 3, 2007 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gladys (anonymous) says...

How terrible that anyone would have to ahovel snow in the mountains. Believe it or not, I live downtown and have the same problem being "plowed in". I really like it when the snowplow comes by AFTER I dig myself out, so I can do it all over again. For anyone that does not like to shovel snow, might I suggest the beach?

I still say it was a nice gesture and I am not the least bit envious that the plowguy did not do MY driveway.

March 3, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

6624sw (anonymous) says...

gwendolyn: You ask how you can get the county plow to stop creating a roadblock of snow in your driveway after they plow?
MOVE! That's how.

March 3, 2007 at 12:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

I visit the beach as often as I can, thank you very much. And NEVER have to shovel sand to get out of the drive....

I have a driveway that's as long as half a football field. No plow. Hand shoveled out. Can't afford anything else. It's good exercise. But the pile left by the snow plow at the top of the drive is simply ridiculous. Oddly enough, there are several homes in this part of the valley that never seem to have this problem after the plow passes by....

March 3, 2007 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

Why is it that every time someone posts a criticism of the 'boat, the valley, or WHATEVER, the first suggestion out of posters' keyboards is "MOVE!"?

Sooooo non-creative. Seems to be the most uninspiring and downright lazy reflex in abundance in this town. You could at least provide a bit of humor with your suggestion.

Then again, the "move" suggestion could be indicative of bush-ite mentality...and a way to quickly identify Republicans...sort of a "...danger, danger Will Robinson..." to all who wish to avoid engaging in conversation with those who actually support political puppetry of IQ 91 personalities...

"Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
Bush, Jr., 9/20/2001

Someone call Homeland Security! There are evil snow terrorists in Yampa Valley who must be rooted out!!!

*******
Scott,

Why does the comment editor recognize the word "bush-ite" (without the dash) as s--t?

gwendolyn

March 3, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gladys (anonymous) says...

yeah Gwen - I go to the beach as often as I can as well. Have never once had to shovel sand, though I think I have at times accumulated enough in my car where a shovel may have been useful. Personally, I am done with snow this year and ready to move on to mowing the grass.

March 4, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

flyonthewall (anonymous) says...

After more searching, I realize I didn't know as much as I thought I did. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time but am wrong. I apologize to the Jost family as well as the Routt County crews and the general public. There were circumstances I was not aware of at the time. I did not want to get anybody in trouble or start any problems throughout the county.

March 5, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

id04sp (anonymous) says...

Flyboy,

The fact is, the County is collecting taxes for road maintenance and then passing the expense on to homeowners by refusing to plow eligible neighborhood roads.

I'd like to see how much the County collects for this purpose, and how much is spent on it. Could this be part of the source of the so-called surplus that was raided to build the new Kangaroo Kourthouse and underground all-weather sculling regatta venue?

We need more light on our County government operations. Things that don't look right probably are not right.

March 6, 2007 at 6:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

natv63 (anonymous) says...

You can afford to live in the county and can afford to go to the beach every chance you get but can't afford to get something to plow your drive way with. Wow...No doubt a liberal. The county and city boys do an unbelievable good job keeping our roads plowed. The amount of taxes you pay that goes to road and bridge is nominal. You are getting a killer deal for your money. Roads keep getting added to the county but the man power or equipment doesn't. I would love for them to quit plowing for one week when its snowing hard and see how you new comers handle it. I remember when you only saw the plow once a week. We are lucky. I shovel the windrow out of my drive way every time they plow and bet I'm alot older than you. I don't mind at all, it's part of living here. The fellow running the plow was helping the propane driver out because he just happened to be there. I'll guarantee he would have done the same for any one of you in the same circumstances. Instead of bad mouthin him you should be thankful there are still a few good people in Routt county left. You haven't run us all out yet.

March 7, 2007 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gladys (anonymous) says...

Thank you - finally another nice person coming forward to say it was a kind gesture. Not very many left in this county.

March 7, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

I RENT in the south valley -- cheaper than living in town.

I travel on BUSINESS with a NONPROFIT to coastal cities several times a year.

And, NO, I cannot afford any implement to plow snow from my drive.

Satisfied? Or, would you like a copy of my tax return, too?

March 8, 2007 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

ADDENDUM:

to answer a few more of your ASSUMED judgments....

1. I'm 50 years old. Given your "quick to judge" statement, I'll warrant a guess that your ARE older than me. In spirit, if nothing else.

2. I don't believe in labeling people or name-calling. Liberal, conservative, faggot, whatever! Name calling is offensive and polarizing and totally destructive to any kind of communication, debate, discourse, etc.

I don't mind a columnist's opposite or even negative take on a situation but I DO abhor the trash talk of name calling and labeling people derogitorily. My grandmother taught me a long time ago that verbal abuse and physical abuse are not that far apart and to do either is to murder your spirit, as well as the recipients. It has nothing to do with the discussion at hand and if it's the best you can do, then your grasp of the language and ability to debate constructively with another human being as well as the overall brain capacity to think creatively and engage in intelligent discourse is quite low. Recipients of such name calling should not take ownership of the garbage spewed at them but, rather, walk away from meaningless tripe and the individual who spewed it.

(Probably why I do NOT read Ann Coulter or care one twit what she thinks about anything AND believe her ranting column is not just a difference of opinion BUT a display of her mean spirit, negative energy towards other human beings, and downright inability to engage in discourse that doesn't label or call names. The newpaper doesn't print foul words that are offensive -- why does hateful name calling rate above THAT under the guise of "freedom of speech"? Coulter teeters precariously on the thin fence of freedom of the press and libel with total disregard and publishers gleefully continue giving her space because of her "controversial" diatribes that "sell" papers. ugh.)

3. I did NOT "badmouth" the county or any individual who plows the road in front of my house. I wrote about MY situation, did NOT name names or even give out a specific county road but, rather, asked questions and grumbled about the additional burden of labor the situation presents to ME.

March 8, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gwendolyn (anonymous) says...

ADDENDUM continued:

Frankly, I wish the county would REDUCE their plowing on my little county road....they work diligently on snow clearing so that even a rear-wheel drive spud with bald tires can drive down it and I just don't see any vehicles that fit that description anywhere in this area. Even so, they work hard to make the road drivable for any joe who wanders this way. It's their job and I respect that. I just wish I didn't have to suffer the consequences of that level of dedication.

4. The road plow did NOT help out the propane guy in MY case.

5. Not a newcomer. And, if they stopped plowing for a week it probably wouldn't have much impact at all on me. I have a computer and can work from home via the internet. Oh, and as a survivor of many weather situations in my lifetime, I believe in emergency preparedness. I'm pretty sure I could last at least 3 months, maybe longer, without ever leaving the property. If I had to, that is.

Walking away now...

March 8, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JQPUBLIC (anonymous) says...

natv...You said "you should be thankful there are still a few good people in Routt county left. You haven't run us all out yet"....Well, I'm afraid that the one thing accomplished here is that there will be one less nice guy in the county. You can bet your life the poor plow driver will think twice before he helps anyone again after being crucified here. Can you imagine living in the mountains, bellyaching about the snow, and worrying that one of your tax dollars might have been spent helping a neighbor (It's not like the county was there plowing out the same driveway on a daily basis). I like to think that "what goes around, comes around" so all of you complainers... when your stuck, stranded, broke down or whatever and that "public servant" just passes you by remember, they couldn't take the time to help you because they didn't want to waste someone else's tax dollar. Some people really should rethink mountain living!

March 9, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

3grtlgts (anonymous) says...

You must remember that the county has a 60 ft. right of way in most cases. The lane of travel is about 16 to 18 ft. leaving aprox. 12 ft. to 14 ft. for storage. Your driveway starts beyond the 12- 14 ft. of storage area.

March 9, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )